Ascorbate oxidase from Cucurbita pepo medullosa. New method of purification and reinvestigation of properties.

1. Ascorbate oxidase has been isolated from the green squash Cucurbita pepo medullosa by a new purification method. Furthermore a low-molecular-weight copper protein containing one type-1 copper/20000 Mr could be separated during the purification of the oxidase. The six-step procedure developed improved the yield of ascorbate oxidase by a factor of 2.5. The method is well reproducible and a constant value of 8 Cu (7.95 +/- 0.1/140000 Mr) has been established. By ultracentrifugal and electrophoretic criteria the enzyme preparations have been found to be homogeneous. They exhibited a specific activity of 3930 +/- 50 units/mg protein or 1088 +/- 15 units/microgram copper. 2. The pure enzyme is characterized by the following optical purity indices: A280/A610 = 25 +/- 0.5, A330/A610 = 0.65 +/- 0.05 and A610/A500 = 7.0 +/- 0.25. The molar absorption coeffient of the characteristic absorption maximum at 610 nm (oxidized minus reduced) amounts of 9700 M-1 cm-1 . 3. Computer simulations of the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of the oxidized enzyme reveal the following parameters: for the type-1 (blue) copper gz = 2.227, gy = 2.058, gx = 2.036; Az = 5.0 mT, Ay = Ax = 0.5 mT, for the type-2 (non-blue) copper g parallel to = 2.242, g perpendicular = 2.053; A parallel to = 19.0 mT, A perpendicular 0.5 mT. Out of the eight copper atoms present in the oxidase four are detectable by EPR. Of these, three belong to the type-1 class, and one to the type-2 class, as demonstrated by computer simulations of the EPR spectra. 4. To achieve full reduction of the enzyme, as measured by bleaching of the blue chromophore, four equivalents of L-ascorbate or reductase must be added in the absence of molecular oxygen. Upon reduction of the enzyme the fluorescence at 330 nm (lambda max ex = 295 nm) is enhanced by a factor of 1.5 to 1.75. The reduced enzyme is readily reoxidized by dioxygen, ferricyanide or hydrogen peroxide. It binds two molecules of hydrogen peroxide in the oxidized state (1/type-3 Cu pair), which can be monitored by a characteristic increase of the absorbance around 310 nm (delta epsilon = 1000 +/- 50 M-1 cm-1). Corresponding changes in EPR and fluorescence spectra have not been detected.     

Type 1, blue copper proteins constitute a respiratory nitrite-reducing system in Pseudomonas aureofaciens

Pseudomonas aureofaciens truncates the respiratory reduction of nitrate (denitrification) at the level of N2O. The nitrite reductase from this organism was purified to apparent electrophoretic homogeneity and found to be a blue copper protein. The enzyme contained 2 atoms of copper/85 kDa, both detectable by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The protein was dimeric, with subunits of identical size (40 +/- 3 kDa). Its pI was 6.05. The EPR spectrum showed an axial signal g at 2.21(8) and g at 2.04(5). The magnitude of the hyperfine splitting (A parallel = 6.36 mT) indicated the presence of type 1 copper only. The electronic spectrum had maxima at 280 nm, 474 nm and 595 nm (epsilon = 7.0 mM-1 cm-1), and a broad shoulder around 780 nm. A copper protein of low molecular mass (15 kDa), with properties similar to azurin, was also isolated from P. aureofaciens. The electronic spectrum of this protein showed a maximum at 624 nm in the visible range (epsilon = 2.5 mM-1 cm-1) and pronounced structures in the ultraviolet region. The EPR parameters were g parallel = 2.26(6) and g perpendicular = 2.05(6), with A parallel = 5.8 mT. The reduced azurin transferred electrons efficiently to nitrite reductase; the product of nitrite reduction was nitric oxide. The specific nitrite-reducing activity with ascorbate-reduced phenazine methosulfate as electron donor was 1 mumol substrate min-1 mg protein-1. The reaction product again was nitric oxide. Nitrous oxide was the reaction product from hydroxylamine and nitrite and from dithionite-reduced methyl viologen and nitrite. No 'oxidase' activity could be demonstrated for the enzyme. Our data disprove the presumed exclusiveness of cytochrome cd1 as nitrite reductase within the genus Pseudomonas.     

Nitrous oxide reductase from denitrifying Pseudomonas perfectomarina. Purification and properties of a novel multicopper enzyme

Nitrous oxide reductase from the denitrifying bacterium Pseudomonas perfectomarina has been isolated and purified to homogeneity. The enzyme contained about eight copper atoms/120 kDa and was composed of two presumably identical subunits. The isoelectric point was 5.1. Several spectroscopically distinct forms of the enzyme were identified. A 'pink' form of the enzyme was obtained when the purification was done aerobically. The specific activity of this species was around 30 nkat/mg protein as measured by the nitrous-oxide-dependent oxidation of photochemically reduced benzyl viologen. A 'purple' form of the enzyme, whose catalytic activity was 2-5-fold higher, was obtained when the purification was done anaerobically. The activity of both forms of the enzyme was substantially increased by dialyzing the protein against 2-(N-cyclohexylamino)ethanesulfonate buffer at pH approximately equal to 10. A maximal activity of 1000 nkat/mg protein has been obtained for the purple form using this procedure. A 'blue', enzymatically inactive form of the enzyme resulted when either the pink or the purple species was exposed to excess dithionite or ascorbate. Anaerobic, potentiometric titrations of both the purple and the pink form of the enzyme gave a Nernst factor, n540, of 0.95 and a midpoint potential, E'0,540 of +260 mV (vs SHE, 25 degrees C, Tris/HCl buffer, pH 7.5). Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical spectra of N2O reductase suggested the presence of an unusual type 1 copper center. Type 2 copper was absent. The hyperfine splitting in the g parallel region consisted of a seven-line pattern. In the presence of excess of reductant, a broad EPR signal with g values at 2.18 and 2.06 was observed. The EPR spectra of the pink and purple forms of the enzyme were similar; however, the spectrum of the purple form was better resolved with g parallel = 2.18 (A parallel = 3.83 mT) and g perpendicular = 2.03 (A perpendicular = 2.8 mT). Most of the copper in N2O reductase was removed by anaerobic dialysis against KCN. Reaction of the apoprotein with Cu(en)2SO4 partially regenerated the optical and EPR spectra of the holoprotein; the resulting protein was enzymatically inactive. Monospecific antibodies against the copper protein strongly inhibited the N2O reductase activity of purified samples and cell-free extracts.     

Alcaligenes xylosoxidans dissimilatory nitrite reductase: alanine substitution of the surface-exposed histidine 139l ligand of the type 1 copper center prevents electron transfer to the catalytic center

Nitrite reductase of Alcaligenes xylosoxidans contains three blue type 1 copper centers with a function in electron transfer and three catalytic type 2 copper centers. The mutation H139A, in which the solvent-exposed histidine ligand of the type 1 copper ion was changed to alanine, resulted in the formation of a colorless protein containing 4.4 Cu atoms per trimer. The enzyme was inactive with reduced azurin as the electron donor, and in contrast to the wild-type enzyme, no EPR features assignable to type 1 copper centers were observed. Instead, the EPR spectrum of the H139A enzyme, with parameters of g(1) = 2.347 and A(1) = 10 mT, was typical of type 2 copper centers. On the addition of nitrite, the EPR features developed spectral features with increased rhombicity, with g(1) = 2.29 and A(1) = 11 mT, arising from the type 2 catalytic site. As assessed by visible spectroscopy, ferricyanide (E degree = +430 mV) was unable to oxidize the H139A enzyme, and this required a 30-fold excess of K(2)IrCl(6) (E degree = +867 mV). Oxidation resulted in the EPR spectrum developing additional axial features with g(1) = 2.20 and A(1) = 9.5 mT, typical of type 1 copper centers. The oxidized enzyme after separation from the excess of K(2)IrCl(6) by gel filtration was a blue-green color with absorbance maxima at 618 and 420 nm. The instability of the protein prevented the precise determination of the midpoint potential, but these properties indicate that it is in the range 700-800 mV, an increase of at least approximately 470 mV compared with the native enzyme. This high potential, which is consistent with a trigonal planar geometry of the Cu ion, effectively prevents azurin-mediated electron transfer from the type 1 center to the catalytic type 2 Cu site. However, with dithionite as reductant, 20% of the activity of the wild-type enzyme was observed, indicating that the direct reduction of the catalytic site by dithionite can occur. When CuSO(4) was added to the crude extract before isolation of the enzyme, the Cu content of the purified H139A enzyme increased to 5.7 Cu atoms per trimer. The enzyme remained colorless, and the activity with dithionite as a donor was not significantly increased. The additional copper in such preparations was associated with an axial type 2 Cu EPR signal with g(1) = 2.226 and A(1) = 18 mT, and which were not changed by the addition of nitrite, consistent with the activity data.     

The reaction of nitric oxide with copper proteins and the photodissociation of copper-NO complexes

The reactivity with nitric oxide was investigated for a number of type-1, type-2 and type-3 copper proteins azurin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (type-1 copper); bovine superoxide dismutase, diamine oxidase from pig kidney and galactose oxidase from Dactylium dendroides (type-2 copper); haemocyanin from Helix pomatia (type-3 copper); the blue oxidases ceruloplasmin from pig serum, and ascorbate oxidase from Cucurbita pepo medullosa. Type-1 copper formed complexes with NO in the oxidised state, which complexes were only fully formed at low temperatures and could be photodissociated at 77K. Complex formation led to the disappearance of the EPR signal of type-1 copper and of the optical absorbance band in the 600 nm region. In azurin, photodissociation caused the reappearance of the original 625 nm absorbance band, but in the blue oxidases, a new band with lower intensity was found at 595 nm instead of the original absorbance band at 610 nm. In all cases, the EPR signal of type-1 copper did not return. These results are best explained by the formation of a photolabile type-1 Cu1+-NO+ complex. They also indicate that in the complex formed, the type-1 copper structure is probably not disrupted, and that after illumination, the nitric oxide molecule is still in the near vicinity of the copper atom. Type-2 copper did not react at all with nitric oxide, and type-3 copper formed complexes with nitric oxide in both the oxidised and the reduced state, but photodissociation of these complexes could not be demonstrated.     

Structural reorganization of the copper binding site involving Thr15 of mavicyanin from Cucurbita pepo medullosa (zucchini) upon reduction

Mavicyanin, a glycosylated protein isolated from Cucurbita pepo medullosa (zucchini), is a member of the phytocyanin subfamily containing one polypeptide chain of 109 amino residues and an unusual type-I Cu site in which the copper ligands are His45, Cys86, His91, and Gln96. The crystal structures of oxidized and reduced mavicyanin were determined at 1.6 and 1.9 A resolution, respectively. Mavicyanin has a core structure of seven polypeptide beta-strands arranged as a beta-sandwich organized into two beta-sheets, and the structure considerably resembles that of stellacyanin from cucumber (CST) or cucumber basic protein (CBP). A flexible region was not observed on superimpositioning of the oxidized and reduced mavicyanin structures. However, the Cu(II)-epsilon-O-Gln96 bond length was extended by 0.47 A, and the Thr15 residue was rotated by 60.0 degrees and O-gamma1-Thr15 moved from a distance of 4.78 to 2.58 A from the ligand Gln96 forming a new hydrogen bond between O-gamma1-Thr15 and epsilon-O-Gln96 upon reduction. The reorganization of copper coordination geometry of mavicyanin upon reduction arouses reduction potential decreased above pH 8 [Battistuzzi et al. (2001) J. Inorg. Biochem. 83, 223-227]. The rotation of Thr15 and the hydrogen bonding with the ligand Gln96 may constitute structural evidence of the decrease in the reduction potential at high pH.     

Purification, characterization, and preliminary crystallographic study of copper-containing nitrous oxide reductase from Pseudomonas nautica 617

The aerobic purification of Pseudomonas nautica 617 nitrous oxide reductase yielded two forms of the enzyme exhibiting different chromatographic behaviors. The protein contains six copper atoms per monomer, arranged in two centers named Cu(A) and Cu(Z). Cu(Z) could be neither oxidized nor further reduced under our experimental conditions, and exhibits a 4-line EPR spectrum (g(x)=2.015, A(x)=1.5 mT, g(y)=2.071, A(y)=2 mT, g(z)=2.138, A(z)=7 mT) and a strong absorption at approximately 640 nm. Cu(A) can be stabilized in a reduced EPR-silent state and in an oxidized state with a typical 7-line EPR spectrum (g(x)=g(y)= 2.021, A(x) = A(y)=0 mT, g(z) = 2.178, A(z)= 4 mT) and absorption bands at 480, 540, and approximately 800 nm. The difference between the two purified forms of nitrous oxide reductase is interpreted as a difference in the oxidation state of the Cu(A) center. In form A, Cu(A) is predominantly oxidized (S = (1)/(2), Cu(1.5+)-Cu(1.5+)), while in form B it is mostly in the one-electron reduced state (S = 0, Cu(1+)-Cu(1+)). In both forms, Cu(Z) remains reduced (S = 1/2). Complete crystallographic data at 2.4 A indicate that Cu(A) is a binuclear site (similar to the site found in cytochrome c oxidase) and Cu(Z) is a novel tetracopper cluster [Brown, K., et al. (2000) Nat. Struct. Biol. (in press)]. The complete amino acid sequence of the enzyme was determined and comparisons made with sequences of other nitrous oxide reductases, emphasizing the coordination of the centers. A 10.3 kDa peptide copurified with both forms of nitrous oxide reductase shows strong homology with proteins of the heat-shock GroES chaperonin family.     

Multi-frequency EPR and high-resolution M?ssbauer spectroscopy of a putative [6Fe-6S] prismane-cluster-containing protein from Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Hildenborough). Characterization of a supercluster and superspin model protein.

The putative [6Fe-6S] prismane cluster in the 6-Fe/S-containing protein from Desulfovibrio vulgaris, strain Hildenborough, has been enriched to 80% in 57Fe, and has been characterized in detail by S-, X-, P- and Q-band EPR spectroscopy, parallel-mode EPR spectroscopy and high-resolution 57Fe M?ssbauer spectroscopy. In EPR-monitored redox-equilibrium titrations, the cluster is found to be capable of three one-electron transitions with midpoint potentials at pH 7.5 of +285, +5 and -165 mV. As the fully reduced protein is assumed to carry the [6Fe-6S]3+ cluster, by spectroscopic analogy to prismane model compounds, four valency states are identified in the titration experiments: [6Fe-6S]3+, [6Fe-6S]4+, [6Fe-6S]5+, [6Fe-6S]6+. The fully oxidized 6+ state appears to be diamagnetic at low temperature. The prismane protein is aerobically isolated predominantly in the one-electron-reduced 5+ state. In this intermediate state, the cluster exists in two magnetic forms: 10% is low-spin S = 1/2; the remainder has an unusually high spin S = 9/2. The S = 1/2 EPR spectrum is significantly broadened by ligand (2.3 mT) and 57Fe (3.0 mT) hyperfine interaction, consistent with a delocalization of the unpaired electron over 6Fe and indicative of at least some nitrogen ligation. At 35 GHz, the g tensor is determined as 1.971, 1.951 and 1.898. EPR signals from the S = 9/2 multiplet have their maximal amplitude at a temperature of 12 K due to the axial zero-field splitting being negative, D approximately -0.86 cm-1. Effective g = 15.3, 5.75, 5.65 and 5.23 are observed, consistent with a rhombicity of [E/D] = 0.061. A second component has g = 9.7, 8.1 and 6.65 and [E/D] = 0.108. When the protein is reduced to the 4+ intermediate state, the cluster is silent in normal-mode EPR. An asymmetric feature with effective g approximately 16 is observed in parallel-mode EPR from an integer spin system with, presumably, S = 4. The fully reduced 3+ state consists of a mixture of two S = 1/2 ground state. The g tensor of the major component is 2.010, 1.825 and 1.32; the minor component has g = 1.941 and 1.79, with the third value undetermined. The sharp line at g = 2.010 exhibits significant convoluted hyperfine broadening from ligands (2.1 mT) and from 57Fe (4.6 mT). Zero-field high-temperature M?ssbauer spectra of the protein, isolated in the 5+ state, quantitatively account for the 0.8 fractional enrichment in 57Fe, as determined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Interaction of nitric oxide with ceruloplasmin lacking an EPR-detectable type 2 copper.

Nitric oxide (NO) has previously been reported to modify the EPR spectrum of multicopper blue oxidases, disclosing a pure type 2 copper and inducing half-field transitions at g = 4. In the present work the reactivity of NO was reinvestigated with respect to ceruloplasmins having an apparently EPR-silent type 2 copper in their native state. The optical properties of NO-treated ceruloplasmin were independent of the initial redox state of the metal sites. Addition of NO caused the absorption at 600 nm to decrease in the case of oxidized ceruloplasmin and to increase when starting from the reduced proteins. In this latter case the absorbance at 330 nm was also restored, indicating that NO was able to reoxidize the reduced protein. In all cases the band at 600 nm leveled to ca. 60% of the intensity of the native untreated protein, and new bands below 500 nm appeared in the spectra. While the blue absorption band was restored by removal of NO, the absorbance below 500 nm remained higher even after dialysis. The EPR spectrum resulting from reaction of NO with either oxidized, partially reduced, or fully reduced ceruloplasmin consisted in all cases of a broad, structureless resonance around g = 2. NO caused the reversible disappearance of the type 1 copper EPR spectrum in oxidized ceruloplasmin. Also, the transient novel copper signal that arises during the anaerobic reduction process by ascorbate completely disappeared in the presence of NO and did not reappear upon removal of the gas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

EPR spectroscopic detection of free radical outflow from an isolated muscle bed in exercising humans.

There is no direct evidence to support the contention that contracting skeletal muscle and/or associated vasculature generates free radicals in exercising humans. The unique combination of isolated quadriceps exercise and the measurement of femoral arterial and venous free radical concentrations with the use of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy enabled this assumption to be tested in seven healthy men. Application of ex vivo spin trapping using alpha-phenyl-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) resulted in the detection of oxygen- or carbon-centered free radicals (a(N) = 1.38 +/- 0.01 mT and a(beta)(H) = 0.17 +/-0.01 mT, where a(N) and a(beta)(H) are the nitrogen and beta-hydrogen coupling constants, respectively) with consistently higher EPR signal intensities of the PBN spin adduct observed in the venous compared with the arterial circulation (P < 0.05). Incremental exercise further increased the venoarterial intensity difference [85 +/- 58 arbitrary units (AU) at 24 +/- 6% maximal work rate (WR(max)) vs. 387 +/- 214 AU at 69 +/- 7% WR(max); P < 0.05]. When combined with measured changes in femoral venous blood flow (Q), this resulted in a net adduct outflow of 130 +/- 118 and 1,146 +/- 582 AU/min (P < 0.05), which was positively associated with leg oxygen uptake (r(2) = 0.47, P < 0.05) and Q (r(2) = 0.47, P < 0.05). These results provide the first evidence for oxygen- or carbon-centered free radical outflow from an active muscle bed in humans.     

Temperature-induced changes in copper centers and protein conformation of two fungal laccases from Coriolus hirsutus and Coriolus zonatus.

The paper reports on two fungal laccases from Coriolus hirsutus and Coriolus zonatus and their type-2 copper-depleted derivatives. Temperature-induced changes of the copper centers were characterized by optical and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, and the overall protein stability by differential scanning microcalorimetry. The intact enzymes showed highly cooperative thermal unfolding transitions at about 90 degrees C. Type-2 copper depletion led to uncoupling of the domains characterized by a different melting pattern which resolved three subtransitions. Melting curves monitored optically at 290, 340 and 610 nm showed additional transitions below thermal unfolding temperature. EPR spectra of the intact laccases showed the disintegration of the trinuclear copper cluster accompanied by loss of one of the copper ions and disappearance of the strong antiferromagnetic coupling in the type-3 site at 70 degrees C and above 70 degrees C. The copper centers of type-2 copper-depleted laccase showed reduced thermotolerance.     

The interaction of nitric oxide with ascorbate oxidase.

1. The reaction of nitric oxide with oxidized and reduced ascorbate oxidase (L-ascorbate: oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.10.3.3) has been investigated by optical absorption measurements and electron paramagnetic resonance, and the results are compared with those of ceruloplasmin. 2. Upon anaerobic incubation of oxidized ascorbate oxidase with nitric oxide a decrease of the absorbance at 610 nm is found, which is due to an electron transfer from nitric oxide to Type-1 copper. 3. In the presence of nitric oxide the EPR absorbance of ascorbate oxidase decreases and shows predominatly a signal with characteristics of Type-2 copper (g parallel = 2.248; A parallel = 188 G), whereas the type-1 copper signal has vanished. 4. Comparison of the intensities of the EPR signals before and after NO-treatment points to the presence of one Type-2 and three Type-1 copper atoms per molecule of ascorbate oxidase. 5. It is shown that the changes in the optical and the EPR spectrum of ascorbate oxidase induced by nitric oxide are reversible. No difference in enzymic activity is found between the native enzyme and the NO-treated enzyme after removal of nitric oxide.     

EPR characterization of the mononuclear Cu-containing Aspergillus japonicus quercetin 2,3-dioxygenase reveals dramatic changes upon anaerobic binding of substrates.

Quercetin 2,3-dioxygenase (2,3QD) is a copper-containing dioxygenase that catalyses the oxidation of the flavonol quercetin to 2-protocatechuoylphloroglucinol carboxylic acid with concomitant production of carbon monoxide. In contrast to iron dioxygenases, very little is known about copper dioxygenases. We have characterized 2,3QD from the fungus Aspergillus japonicus by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). At pH 6.0, 2,3QD shows a mixture of two EPR species. The major form has parameters typical of type 2 Cu sites (g// = 2.330, A// = 13.7 mT), the minor one has a more distorted geometry (g// = 2.290, A// = 12.5 mT). Anaerobic addition of the substrate quercetin results in a different, single species EPR spectrum with g// = 2.336, A// = 11.4 mT, parameters, which are in-between those of the type 2 and type 1 Cu sites in the Peisach-Blumberg (g// vs. A//) plot. After turnover, a new EPR signal is observed, which is ascribed to the carboxylic acid ester product complex. This spectrum is similar to that of the native enzyme at pH 10.0 and has g-tensor parameters suggesting a trigonal bipyramidal site. Of a variety of flavonoids studied, only flavonols are able to bind to the copper centre of 2,3QD. Nine flavonols with different hydroxylation patterns at the A- and B-ring have been analysed. They cluster in two different regions of the Peisach-Blumberg plot and show that the presence of a 5-OH group has a large effect on the A// parameter. Several differences are noted between A. japonicus 2,3QD and the enzyme from A. niger German Collection of Microorganisms 821.     

Paramagnetic centers and acetyl-coenzyme A/CO exchange activity of carbon monoxide dehydrogenase from Methanothrix soehngenii.

Carbon monoxide (CO) dehydrogenase was purified, both aerobically and anaerobically, to apparent homogeneity from Methanothrix soehngenii. The enzyme contained 18 +/- 2 (n = 6) mol Fe/mol and 2.0 +/- 0.1 (n = 6) mol Ni/mol. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of the aerobically purified CO dehydrogenase showed one sharp EPR signal at g = 2.014 with several characteristics of a [3Fe-4S]1+ cluster. The integrated intensity of this signal was low, 0.03 S = 1/2 spin/alpha beta dimer. The 3Fe spectrum was not affected by incubation with CO or acetyl-coenzyme A, but could be reduced by dithionite. The spectrum of the reduced, aerobically purified enzyme showed complex EPR spectra, which had several properties typical of two [4Fe-4S]1+ clusters, whose S = 1/2 spins weakly interacted by dipolar coupling. The integrated intensity was 0.1-0.2 spin/alpha beta dimer. The anaerobically isolated enzyme showed EPR spectra different from the reduced aerobically purified enzyme. Two major signals were apparent. One with g values of 2.05, 1.93 and 1.865, and an Em7.5 of -410 mV, which quantified to 0.9 S = 1/2 spin/alpha beta dimer. The other signal with g values of 1.997, 1.886 and 1.725, and an Em7.5 of -230 mV gave 0.1 spin/alpha beta dimer. When the enzyme was incubated with its physiological substrate acetyl-coenzyme A, these two major signals disappeared. Incubation of the enzyme under CO atmosphere resulted in a partial disappearance of the spectral component with g = 1.997, 1.886, 1.725. Acetyl-coenzyme A/CO exchange activity, 35 nmol.min-1.mg-1 protein, which corresponded to 7 mol CO exchanged min-1 mol-1 enzyme, could be detected in anaerobic enzyme preparations, but was absent in aerobic preparations. Carbon dioxide also exchanged with C-1 of acetyl-coenzyme A, but at a much lower rate than CO and to a much lower extent.     

A selenomethionine-containing azurin from an auxotroph of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The production and spectroscopic properties of an L-selenomethionine-containing homolog of Pseudomonas aeruginosa azurin are described. The amino acid substitution was carried out by developing an L-methionine-dependent bacterial strain from a fully functional ATCC culture. Uptake studies monitored using L-[75Se]methionine indicated that L-selenomethionine was incorporated into the protein synthetic pathway of Pseudomonas bacteria in a manner analogous to L-methionine. Several batches of bacteria were grown, and one sample of isolated and purified selenoazurin (azurin in which methionine was substituted by selenomethionine) was found (by neutron activation analysis) to contain 5.2 +/- 0.8 seleniums/copper. Correspondingly, a residual 0.35 methionines, relative to 6.0 in the native protein, were found by amino acid analysis in this azurin sample. The redox potential and extinction coefficient of this selenoazurin were found to be 333 +/- 1 mV (pH 7.0, I = 0.22) and 5855 +/- 160 M-1 cm-1 at 626 +/- 1 nm, respectively. Visible electronic, CD, and EPR spectra are reported and Gaussian curve fitting to the former spectrum allowed assignment of the selenomethionine Se----Cu(II) transition to a band found at 18034 cm-1, based upon an observed 450 cm-1 shift to the red from the analogous band position in the native protein. The data are consistent with a relatively more covalent copper site stabilizing the reduced, Cu(I), form in the selenoprotein. A role for the methionine as a modulator of the blue copper site redox potential by metal----ligand back bonding from Cu(I) is discussed in terms of a ligand sphere which limits the valence change at copper to much less than 1 during a redox cycle.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance investigation of photosynthetic reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides R-26 in which Fe2+ was replaced by Cu2+. Determination of hyperfine interactions and exchange and dipole-dipole interactions between Cu2+ and QA-.

We report electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments in frozen solutions of unreduced and reduced photosynthetic reaction centers (RCs) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides R-26 in which Fe2+ has been chemically replaced by the isotope 65Cu2+. Samples in which the primary quinone acceptor QA is unreduced (Cu2+QA:RCs) give a powder EPR spectrum typical for Cu2+ having axial symmetry, corresponding to a d(x2 - y2) ground state orbital, with g values g parallel = 2.314 +/- 0.001 and g perpendicular = 2.060 +/- 0.003. The spectrum shows a hyperfine structure for the nuclear spin of copper (65I = 3/2) with A parallel = (-167 +/- 1) x 10(-4) cm-1 and /A perpendicular/ = (16 +/- 2) x 10(-4) cm-1, and hyperfine couplings with three nitrogen ligands. This has been verified in samples containing the naturally occurring 14N isotope (l = 1), and in samples where the nitrogen ligands to copper were replaced by the isotope 15N (l = 1/2). We introduce a model for the electronic structure at the position of the metal ion which reflects the recently determined three-dimensional structure of the RCs of Rb. sphaeroides (Allen, J. P., G. Feher, T. O. Yeates, H. Komiya, and D. C. Rees. 1987. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 84:5730: Allen, J. P., G. Feher, T. O. Yeates, H. Komiya, and D. C. Rees. 1988. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 85:8487) as well as our EPR results. In this model the copper ion is octahedrally coordinated to three nitrogens from histidine residues and to one carboxylate oxygen from a glutamic acid, forming a distorted square in the plane of the d(x2 = y2) ground state orbital. It is also bound to a nitrogen of another histidine and to the other carboxylate oxygen of the same glutamic acid residue, in a direction approximately normal to this plane. The EPR spectrum changes drastically when the quinone acceptor QA is chemically reduced (Cu2+QA-:RCs); the change is due to the exchange and dipole-dipole interactions between the Cu2+ and QA- spins. A model spin Hamiltonian proposed for this exchange coupled cooper-quinone spin dimer accounts well for the observed spectra. From a comparison of the EPR spectra of the Cu2+QA:RC and CU2+QA-:RC complexes we obtain the values /J0/ = (0.30 +/- 0.02) K for the isotropic exchange coupling, and /d/ = (0.010 +/- 0.002) K for the projection of the dipole-dipole interaction tensor on the symmetry axis of the copper spin. From the EPR experiments only the relative signs of J0 and d can be deduced; it was determined that they have the same sign. The magnitude of the exchange coupling calculated for Cu2+QA-:RC is similar to that observed for the Fe2+QA-:RC complex (J0 = -0.43K). The exchange coupling is discussed in terms of the superexchange paths connecting the Cu2+ ion and the quinone radical using the structural data for the RCs of Rb. sphaeroides. From the value of the dipole-dipole interaction, d, we determined R approximately 8.4 A for the weighted distance between the metal ion and the quinone in reduced RCs, which is to be compared with 10 A obtained from x-ray analysis of unreduced RCs. This points to a shortening of the Cu2+ -QA- distance upon reduction of the quinone, as has been proposed by Allen et al. (1988).     

X-ray crystallographic characterisation of type-2-depleted ascorbate oxidase from zucchini.

The type-2 depleted form of ascorbate oxidase from zucchini has been prepared in crystals and characterised by X-ray crystallography and EPR spectroscopy. The X-ray structure analysis by difference-Fourier techniques and refinement shows that, on average, about 1.3 Cu atoms/ascorbate oxidase monomer are removed. The copper is lost from the trinuclear site whereby the EPR-active type-2 copper is depleted most; type-1 copper is not affected. This observation indicates preferential formation of a 1 Cu-depleted form with the hole equally distributed over all three copper sites. Each of these 1 Cu-depleted species may represent an anti-ferromagnetically coupled copper pair which is EPR-silent and could explain the disappearance of the type-2 EPR signal.     

EPR characterization of a high-spin system in carbon monoxide dehydrogenase from Methanothrix soehngenii.

Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase and methyl-coenzyme M reductase were purified from 61Ni-enriched and natural-abundance nickel-grown cells of the methanogenic archae Methanothrix soehngenii. The nickel-EPR signal from cofactor F-430 in methyl-CoM reductase was of substoichiometric intensity and exhibited near-axial symmetry with g = 2.153, 2.221 and resolved porphinoid nitrogen superhyperfine splittings of approximately 1 mT. In the spectrum from 61Ni-enriched enzyme a well-resolved parallel I = 3/2 nickel hyperfine splitting was observed, A parallel = 4.4 mT. From a computer simulation of this spectrum the final enrichment in 61Ni was estimated to be 69%, while the original enrichment of the nickel metal was 87%. Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase isolated from the same batch exhibited four different EPR spectra. However, in none of these signals could any splitting or broadening from 61Ni be detected. Also, the characteristic g = 2.08 EPR signal found in some other carbon monoxide dehydrogenases and ascribed to a Ni-Fe-C complex, was never observed by us under any conditions of detection (4 to 100 K) and incubation in the presence of ferricyanide, dithionite, CO, coenzyme A, or acetyl-coenzyme A. Novel, high-spin EPR was found in the oxidized enzyme with effective g-values at g = 14.5, 9.6, 5.5, 4.6, 4.2, 3.8. The lines at g = 14.5 and 5.5 were tentatively ascribed to an S = 9/2 system (approximately 0.3 spins/alpha beta) with rhombicity E/D = 0.047 and D less than 0. The other signals were assigned to an S = 5/2 system (0.1 spins/alpha beta) with E/D = 0.27. Both sets of signals disappear upon reduction with Em,7.5 = - 280 mV. With a very similar reduction potential, Em,7.5 = - 261 mV, an S = 1/2 signal (0.1 spins/alpha beta) appears with the unusual g-tensor 2.005, 1.894, 1.733. Upon further lowering of the potential the putative double cubane signal also appears. At a potential E approximately - 320 mV the double cubane is only reduced by a few percent and this allows the detection of individual cubane EPR not subjected to dipolar interaction; a single spectral component is observed with g-tensor 2.048, 1.943, 1.894.     

Characterization of nitrous oxide reductase from a methylotrophic denitrifying bacterium, Hyphomicrobium denitrificans A3151

A Cu-containing nitrous oxide reductase (HdN2OR) from a methylotrophic denitrifying bacterium, Hyphomicrobium denitrificans A3151, has been aerobically prepared and spectroscopically characterized. Purple and blue forms of HdN2OR have been isolated. Each form is a homodimer comprising monomers with a molecular mass of 65 kDa. The visible absorption spectrum of the purple form (designated as form A) exhibits three absorption bands at 480 nm, 540 nm, and 650 nm, with a shoulder near 780 nm, and that of the blue form (designated as form B) shows only one absorption band at 650 nm. Reversible spectral changes, between those of forms A and B, are observed on treatment of these forms with redox reagents. Forms A and B are oxidized and reduced forms, respectively. The 77-K EPR spectrum of form A indicates a seven-line copper hyperfine structure centered at gparallel (gparallel=2.18, Aparallel=4.5 mT), which is characteristic of a mixed-valence binuclear CuA site (Amv), and that of form B exhibits a broad featureless signal (g=2.06). The various spectral data of HdN2OR suggest that form A contains Amv and a mixed-valence tetranuclear CuZ site (Zmv*), while form B includes reduced CuA (Ared) and Zmv*. The pH profiles of N2OR activity of the two forms are similar to each other, and the specific activity at optimum pH 8.8 was estimated to be 45 +/- 5 and 29 +/- 3 micromol.min(-1).mg(-1) for forms A and B, respectively.     

Photodegradation of hyaluronic acid: EPR and size exclusion chromatography study.

Photochemically induced radical reactions involving the lateral sequences and the end macromolecular chain groups of hyaluronic acid in aqueous solutions at 293K were studied by EPR spin trapping technique with DMPO (5,5-dimethylpyrroline-1-oxide). In the first 1-10 minutes of irradiation EPR indicates spin adducts of two carbon centered radicals with the splitting constants of aN = 1.60 mT, aH = 2.51 mT and aN = 1.56 mT, aH = 2.28 mT. After longer irradiation time (over 10 minutes) dominate two further DMPO adducts of radicals centered on hetero-atoms with splitting constants of aN = 1.44 mT, aH = 1.60 mT and of aN = 1.49 mT, aH = 1.49 mT. Simultaneously, molecular weight followed by SEC decreases, suggesting that UV irradiation leads to the breaking of interglycosidic bonds of hyaluronic acid main macromolecular chain.